Help for Au Pairs:

What is an au pair?
What are the differences between an au pair / au pair+ and a nanny?
Procedures
Family Membership
Working Hours
Studying
Visas
Healthcare
Cars and Driving

Introduction

This page will explain many of the common need-to-know things about being an au pair and the procedures involved in finding a host family.

If this page doesn't answer your question, please use our Suggestion Box, or get in touch with us using our Contact page and we'll be glad to help.

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What is an Au Pair?

The main purpose of the au pair program is to allow foreign nationals to learn English whilst living with an English family for up to two years.

Pocket money is given in exchange for childcare and light housework duties.
(See Working Hours below)

An au pair must be...

Single with no dependants
Aged between 17 and 27
Prepared to stay at least 6 months
A national of the European Union using a Student Visa, or almost any country if using a Working Holiday Visa
Coming to England to an arranged placement
In possession of a valid passport
Intending to stay in the UK no longer than two years as an au pair

EU nationals may work as an "au pair plus" and may work extra hours but must give their host family first-refusal on their time. (See Working Hours below)

We also ask that they are...

Trustworthy and dependable
Someone who likes being with children
Capable of doing light housework
Keen to learn English and the local culture

What are the differences between an au pair / au pair+ and a nanny?

Au Pair (Live In)

Works a maximum of 25 hours a week and a maximum of 2 evenings baby-sitting for a minimum of £60 per week
Family gives full board, own room and two consecutive days off (these do not have to be on the weekend, but with the au pair's previous agreement)
This type of applicant can look after children of school age and is not qualified in child care. They can only look after babies or children under school age if a parent is at home and the level of responsibility should be kept to a minimum as English is not the applicant’s first language. This is for the safety of your children
The applicant comes from one of the 27 EEC countries, and does not require a Visa to au pair in the UK. However, applicants from Turkey do still require a Visa. On our site, Turkish applicants should already be in the UK, or have gone home for a period of time, but in possession of a valid au pair Visa. It is the family’s responsibility to check the applicant has a valid Visa and is allowed to au pair in the UK
An au pair can look after children, O.A.P.s, help you get around if you are disabled in any way, look after your animals or house sit, if you are away. This is a very flexible student programme

Housekeeper (Live In)

This applicant works as an au pair or au pair+, but is more responsible for the maintenance of the family home, rather than childcare

Au Pair+ (Live In)

Same as above, but this applicant is ready to work more than 25 hours a week for an increased wage. Families will pay the applicant for every hour worked over the 25 hours (a minimum of £100 for 40 hours)

Au Pair (Live Out)

These are rare. The au pair provides their own accommodation and pays their own bills.
The family pay the minimum wage per hour of £5.45 or more, and pays National Insurance contributions and tax (as with a nanny)
There are very few of these type of applicants on the website, and they should live very close to the family the applicant is providing a service for

Mother’s Help (Live In)

This applicant is not qualified in childcare either, but probably comes from one of the English-speaking countries: Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada or one of the old commonwealth countries
This applicant has come to the UK on a working holiday Visa. This applicant can au pair in the UK, but can also work anywhere they want for the duration of their Visa
As they speak English fluently, they can be given more responsibility with young children and babies, but families will pay them between £100 and £150 per week for 35 hours
This applicant is also quite rare, as they are able to do any other work in the UK
This Visa is normally valid for two years, and it is the family's responsibility to check that the applicant has a valid Visa

Student Visa

Young applicants from countries who have the financial means to come and study in the UK on a student Visa
This applicant can au pair or work in the UK. On a student Visa they can take a job for a maximum of 25 hours per week. They can work as an au pair or au pair+, but they do need to study 15 hours a week (approx. 3 hours a day).
It is the family’s responsibility to check that the applicant’s student Visa is valid

Nanny (Live Out)

This applicant has English as a first language, and is qualified in childcare and first aid (NNEB or equivalent), from new-born babies upwards
Normally lives out, and only works Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM

Note: Applicants should not normally work more than 40 hours per week. These are guidelines only for our families and au pairs

We provide all of the above, except nannies

Procedures

As an au pair, this is the line of procedures we use to provide you with your ideal host Family during your visit to the UK

Register yourself with us using the Au Pair Application Form Online
Registration requires a €10 administration fee, needed to keep our service to au pairs free unlike other Agencies. We ask that all au pairs pay this fee, but if you are unable to do so we will not turn you down
Browse the list of available Families on our website using the search filters to narrow down the list to Families you would be most interested in.
Click the "Contact This Family" link on a Family's Profile page to send them a message that you are interested in their family. The family can then view your profile online and if they are interested they may get in contact with you.
When a Family contacts you they may want to ask you a number of questions about your childcare experience and your other abilities. It will help to have answers prepared for the most common questions, we can help you with this.
Families will also ask for your au pair File, which is a collection of documents that you need to prepare. You should send a copy of all of these directly to the family when they contact you to help them make a decision.

These must be written in English, with clear contact details for the people in the references
1. A Dear Family Letter (see next section)
2. 2 References
3. A Childcare Reference
4. A Character Reference
5. A Passport Photo
6. A Medical Certificate (Not for an EEC Member)
Because your Profile is also on the website we will introduce any families who specifically have expressed interest in you
If you accept a placement with a Family, they will arrange with you when and where to pick you up when you arrive in England.
We will give you support throughout the placement with advice and help

Dear Family Letter

It is part of your au pair File that you should submit a "Dear Family Letter" to your prospective host family. Don't forget it is very important that your letter is clear with plenty of information because the prospective families will recruit their au pair on view of the file only and there is plenty of competition.

For help, please review the list of things you should include in your letter below

What To Include...

Your Name, Age and Country of Origin
Where you live
Number of brothers and sisters and their ages
Your family background
Your education
Whether you smoke or not
If you like/dislike animals
If you are ready to drive in the UK or not

You should describe your personality as you see yourself and how your friends perceive you. Describe in details your childcare experience. The reasons why you want to come to the UK to be an au pair.

Working Hours

An au pair works 25 hours per week plus 2 evenings babysitting for pocket money of around £60 per week.

An au pair plus works up to 40 hours per week plus 2 evenings babysitting for pocket money of up to around £100 per week.

Duties include ....

Light housework (washing, ironing, cleaning/tidying the house)
Childcare and babysitting

Studying

The primary purpose of an au pair placement in the UK is to allow single people to learn English, by living with an English speaking family.

Normally au pairs want to study at a local college for a qualification. Your au pair will need to enrol in person as soon as they can after arriving. They will have to pay the fees in advance and will normally be tested to decide which class is best suited to their level of English. Some families provide assistance with these fees as it is difficult for a Au Pair to pay in advance upon their arrival.

Before you arrive, ask the family about...

English courses held in their your area
The approximate costs involved

Healthcare

Whilst in the UK, au pairs are normally covered by the National Health Service. In the event of illness or injury, all doctor’s consultation fees are covered, although prescriptions would have to be paid for; approximately £7.00 per item.

In the event of hospitalisation as a result of accident or illness, all surgery, medical care, drugs & food etc. are paid for by the National Health Service. Au pairs should register with the family’s doctor soon after arrival.

Dental care in the UK is only partially covered by the National Health Service, and some dentists only offer private care. Dental care can be very expensive, and the au pair should take out private insurance to cover this.

Cars and Driving

Make sure you obtain an International Driving License before departing for England.

The family may assess your driving ability before you drive on your own. Some families pay for some driving lessons in their car as practice for their au pair and as a means of assessing their ability.

Be clear about any restrictions on the use of the car: